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WWII veteran and VFW member, George Ciampa, 84, knows first-hand the true cost of freedom. During his stint in the U.S. Army he completed five campaigns in the European Theatre including the Invasion of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. Though both operations made a significant impact on young Ciampa who was 18 at the time, his most culminating...
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It’s nice to receive a care package from home, whether you’re 100 miles away, or overseas fighting for our country. But, for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, gift cards, instead of care packages, are more practical these days. That’s why VFW Post 1018 out of Dorchester, Mass. held a fundraiser last month t...
GAITHERSBURG, Md. — Army Sgt. Kelly Keck arrived at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., last September, a week or two after he accidentally stepped on a land mine while serving as a medic in Afghanistan. Keck, 35, lost his right leg below the knee and his left index, ring and pinky fingers in the explosion. After nearly a ye...
WASHINGTON— August unemployment data released today by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics has the new national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. very concerned. The data reflects 185,000 current war veterans as unemployed, an all-time high. "The economic downturn has impacted the entire nation, and nowhere is it more demo...
This year, Terry Benson, member of Post 7686 and Department Chief of Staff, wanted to help plan an Independence Day to remember in a town that never forgets. Alamogordo, N.M., is home to Holloman Air Force Base and more than 5,000 retired veterans and 3,000 active duty service members, making it a prime location for a patriotic celebration. &ldqu...
Reprinted with permission. Checkpoint July/August 2009— When Staff Sgt. Laura Eng returns from Iraq, she plans to join her father and grandfather—as a VFW member. In an e-mail to her family, Laura wrote: “Tell Grandpa he has to stay strong and healthy so when I come home, he can take me to join the VFW.” Laura’s grand...
WASHINGTON — The national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. returned home after spending almost four days visiting American troops stationed in Iraq. His overall assessment: "This war is nearing its end, which has our troops pumped with anticipation and the Iraqi people increasingly hopeful for their future." Glen M. Gard...
A fish fry with a group of men over 60. Not the type of get-together a 20-something guy is likely to view as an appealing way to spend the evening. But the Veterans of Foreign Wars wants to attract exactly those young men as new members. The VFW believes switching from old-fashioned socials to social networking Web sites is the answer. The 110-yea...
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — This past weekend, the VFW, along with many other veterans’ organizations, assisted with the Historical Soldiers Relocation Project, one of the largest memorial ceremonies in the nation to date. The remains of more than 50 Cavalry, Infantry Soldiers, Indian Scouts and dependants from the 1860’s-1884 were intern...
CHICAGO— Like many wives of deployed military personnel, Park Forest resident Rianne Toll is burdened by a heavy heart and a fuller plate. Her husband, Jeffrey Toll Jr., is in the Navy Reserve and has worked in an armory in Kuwait for the past eight months. His absence leaves the stay-at-home mom in charge of their three children - ages 1...
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